Chrysanthemum plant -- Jannel cultivar

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named Jannel is provided. The new cultivar was the result of a controlled breeding program wherein the Green Peas cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,735) was pollinated by the Keystone cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,946). More specifically, the new cultivar forms attractive cream white flowers of the pompon type which have a green center (as illustrated). The inflorescence tends to be pyramidal in configuration. The response period of the flowers is approximately nine weeks. Reduced susceptibility to leaf miner is exhibited. The new cultivar is particularly suited for use in the production of a cut decorative spray under greenhouse conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat.,and hereinafter is referred to by the cultivar name Jannel.

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program which hadas its objective the creation of a new Chrysanthemum cultivar whichexhibits attractive flowers of the pompon type having white ray floretsand a green flower center, a flower response period of approximatelynine weeks, and the ability to produce flowers of commerciallyacceptable quality throughout the year in a cut mum production program.Such combination of traits is not believed to have been present in thepreviously available Chrysanthemum cultivars. This objective wassatisfactorily fulfilled in the cultivar of the present invention.

The breeding program which resulted in the production of the newcultivar of the present invention was carried out in a controlledenvironment during 1985 at De Lier, The Netherlands. The female parent(i.e., the seed parent) was the Green Peas cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No.6,735) and the male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the Keystonecultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,946). The parentage of the new cultivarcan be summarized as follows:

    GREEN PEAS×KEYSTONE.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and plantletswere obtained which were physically and biologically different from eachother. Selective study during 1986 resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new cultivar.

It was found that the new cultivar of the present invention:

(a) exhibits decorative flowers having an overall diameter ofapproximately 60 to 70 mm. wherein the ray florets are cream white andthe flower center is light green,

(b) bears flowers in a somewhat pyramidal configuration,

(c) exhibits a flower response period of approximately nine weeks,

(d) exhibits a reduced susceptibility to leaf miner,

(e) forms attractive dark green foliage, and

(f) has the ability to produce flowers of commercially acceptablequality throughout the year in a cut mum production program.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings initially takenduring 1986, as performed at De Lier, The Netherlands, in a controlledenvironment has demonstrated that the characteristics of the newcultivar as herein disclosed are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual propagation.

Jannel has not been observed under all possible environmental conditionsto date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light,day length, contact with pesticides and/or subjection to growthretardant treatments.

When the new cultivar of the present invention is compared to the GreenPeas cultivar, the Jannel cultivar is found to exhibit slightly lessvegetative growth (e.g., assumes a height of approximately 90 cm. vs.approximately 110 cm.), exhibits a slower flower response period (e.g.,approximately nine weeks vs. approximately eight weeks), exhibits lessof a pompon flower type, exhibits a more decorative appearance, andexhibits more tolerance to leaf miner. The cream white ray floretcoloration, the light green flower center, and the tolerance to low andhigh temperatures are substantially identical to the correspondingcharacteristics of the Green Peas cultivar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character, atypical specimen of an overall plant of the new cultivar. The plant wasgrown in a greenhouse at De Lier, The Netherlands.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described hereafter isthe R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England. The color values were determined at 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noonunder natural daylight conditions at De Lier, The Netherlands, on May15, 1991. The plants described were grown under standard greenhouseconditions which approximate those commonly utilized for the productionof cut mums.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat., cv. Jannel.

Commercial.--Cut decorative spray.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Pyramidal.

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--Approximately 60 to 70 mm. on average.

B. Corolla of ray and disc florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--White withgreen center.

Color ray florets.--(top surface) -- Cream white, White Group 155B.(lower surface) -- Cream white, White group 155B.

Color disc florets.--Light green, Green Group 138B.

C. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Not present.

Gynoecium.--Present in ray florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Approximately 90 cm. on average.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--Yellow-Green Group 147A.

Color (under surface).--Yellow-Green Group 147B.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant namedJannel, substantially as herein shown and described, which:(a) exhibitsdecorative flowers having an overall diameter of approximately 60 to 70mm. wherein the ray florets are cream white and the flower center islight green, (b) bears flowers in a somewhat pyramidal configuration,(c) exhibits a flower response period of approximately nine weeks, (d)exhibits a reduced susceptibility to leaf miner, (e) forms attractivedark green foliage, and (f) has the ability to produce flowers ofcommercially acceptable quality throughout the year in a cut mumproduction program.